Carbon dioxide absorber apparatus

ABSTRACT

A carbon dioxide absorber apparatus for use in the administration of anesthesia, said apparatus being demountable in its entirety to a plurality of components all sterilizable in demounted condition by use of conventional autoclave equipment, said absorber apparatus having solely internal passageways to define a unidirectional path for the passage of gases therethrough, with all portions of the path being demountable and accessible for said sterilization.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,707,965 Guzay 1 Jan. 2, 1973 541 CARBONDIOXIDE ABSORBER 2,837,413 6 1958 Hay ..128/191 R x APPARATUS 2,848,3098 1958 Hay..... ....128/191 R x 3,577,988 5/1971 Jones ..l28/l42.7 [76]Inventor: Casimer M. Guzay, 7705 Peterson 3,397,693 8/1968 Warncke..128/191R Avenue, Chicago, 111. 60631 22 Filed; Oct 22, 1970 PrimaryExaminer-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerG. F. Dunne [21] Appl'82,975 AttorneySilverman & Cass Related US. Application Data [57]ABSTRACT [63-] Cont1nuat1on-1n-part of Ser. No. 843,947, July 23,

19 9 A carbon dioxide absorber apparatus for use in the administrationof anesthesia, said apparatus being 52 US. Cl ..l28/19l R, 23/252,55/267, demountable in its entirety to a plurality of 128/1426 ponentsall sterilizable in demounted condition by use 51 Int. Cl. ..A62b 7/10of ti n autoclave q Said absorber [58] Field ofSearch..128/191R,188,203,142, apparatus having slely internal Passagewaysdefine a unidirectional path for the passage of gases therethrough, withall portions of the path being demountable and accessible for saidsterilization.

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures us I30 I42 PATENTEI'JJA 2191a 3.707.965

saw 1 [IF 2 VAPORIZER INVENTOR mfg m ATTORNEYS kame'z/ 6342 CARBONDIOXIDE ABSORBER APPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my copending United StatesPatent application Ser. No. 843,947 filed July 23, 1969 for CARBONDIOXIDE ABSORBER APPARATUS.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to apparatusutilized to remove carbon dioxide from respiratory gases in the courseof procedures utilized in the administration of anesthesia. Moreparticularly, the invention is concerned with the provision of animproved carbon dioxide absorber apparatus for closed systemadministration of anesthesia, said apparatus capable of being knockeddown to a plurality of components all capable of autoclave sterilizationin their entirety, yet said apparatus having solely internal passagewaysfor the passage of gases therethrough; being formed of component partswhich are capable of economic fabrication; and, being unusuallyversatile as compared to apparatus heretofore available.

My earlier co-pending application provided, for what is believed to bethe first time, a carbon dioxide absorber apparatus for the functiondesired which was capable of being knocked-down to component parts, allsterilizable utilizing conventional autoclave equipment. This waspossible because of the available accessibility of all passageways andinterior formations of the absorber apparatus in its knocked-downcondition. The earlier apparatus included an absorber head formed of apair of components each fabricated as a unitary casting. The headincluded mounting structure for internal pressure indicating means, forrelief valve means, for means for introducing oxygen for enrichment ofthe respiratory gases and for valve means for conducting the respiratorygases between the patient and the absorber. Gases from the patient enterthe absorber apparatus by way of the absorber head which is formed on apair of castings, one being a hollow cover and the other being formed asan annular spoked frame. The castings were coupled one to the other andalso mounted in direct communication with an absorbent containingcanister having a perforate top and floor. The bottom or floor of thecanister was coupled directly to a dish shaped base member, also formedas a casting. Passage means were provided coupling the interior of thebase to an exterior placed airway which, in turn, was coupled to aninhalation valve means to which was mounted a breather bag and conduitmeans leading back to the patient. The path of travel of the gas throughthe absorber apparatus was unidirectional, that is downward from thewide mouth outlet of the absorber head through the absorbent in thecanisters and to the wide mouth entry to the interior of absorber base,thence to and through the exterior airway to the inhalation valve meansand breather bag, and then back to the patient.

Carbon-dioxide absorber apparatus other than the apparatus disclosed andclaimed in my earlier co-pending application, have been characterized bythe presence of interior passageways configured so as to be incapable ofbeing completely cleared of residue for sterilization, and in fact werebelieved incapable of being demounted and sterilized in their entirety,generally due to the nature and arrangement of the interior passageways.The co-pending apparatus solved these difficulties and many others asenumerated in the copending application but possessed certain attributeswhich limited its versatility in commercial use. One could not utilizethe same absorber in surgery, dentistry and vetinary medicineapplications.

One other of the limitations involved the utilization of an exteriorairway between the base and the exhalation valve means. This providedopportunity for inadvertent disconnection and also provided anobstruction object and hazard to the passage of persons thereabout. Thecompactness of the overall structure was not good as ultimately desired.It would be more advantageous to utilize totally internal passagewaysrather than an external airway without the need for portions extendingexterior of the absorber. Further, even though the castings wererelatively simple as compared with other available carbon-dioxideabsorbing apparatus, a more economically fabricated structure still wasdesired. Improvements in assembly and disassembly also were desired.

Accordingly, the invention herein provides an improved carbon dioxideabsorber apparatus economic in structure and a solely internal flow pathfor gases eliminating the presence of any external airways with theirattendant disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A carbon dioxide absorber apparatus whichcomprises a unitary absorber head casting, a pair of base castings meansfor accommodating inhalation valve means and exhalation valve means uponthe absorber head, tubular means for connecting the absorber head to thepair of base elements and canister means interposed between the absorberhead and the pair of base elements, said canister means arranged in sideby side relationship, the path of gas flow being entirely internal ofthe absorber apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view,partially diagrammatic, partially perspective, of the carbon-dioxideabsorber apparatus according to the invention as incorporated in asystem for the administration of anesthesia to a patient.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the absorber apparatus as illustrated inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 andin the direction indicated.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The carbon-dioxide absorberapparatus according to the invention is designated generally byreference character 10 in FIG. I and is illustrated as incorporated in asystem which includes a gas mixing and delivery head 12 and a vaporizer14. The absorber apparatus 10 has an absorber head 16 and a pair ofabsorber bases 18 and 20. A pair of canisters 22 and 24 of cylindricalconfiguration are received between the head 16 and bases 18 and 20. Thecanisters 22 and 24 are arranged vertically parallel one next to theother as shown in FIG. 1.

The absorber head 16 is formed as a unitary casting and includes a pairof inverted cup-like portions 26 and 28, each portion having an annulardepending flange of L-shaped cross-section, the inner diameter of whichbeing slightly larger than the outer diameter of the canisters 22 and 24respectfully. Said flanges 30 each define seats 32 carrying gaskets 34.The portions 26 and 28 define respectively interior chambers 36 and 38,the inner diameter thereof being substantially equal to the innerdiameter of the cylinders 22 and 24. The portions 26 and 28 are spacedone from the other but share a common horizontal plane. A bridgingformation 40 is provided integral with said portions 26 and 28.Formation 40 includes a hollow passage 42 and a platform 44. The hollowpassage 42 provides sole communication between the chambers 36 and 38and has an upstanding internally threaded hollow conduit 46 openingthereto. Each of the portions 26 and 28 are provided with side openings48 and 50 establishing communication from chambers 36 and 38 to thehollow passage 42. A pressure relief valve arrangement 52 is threadablyengaged within the conduit 46. The platform 44 carries a vertical tube54 which has a narrow diameter portion 56 at the upper end thereof. Apassage is provided in the tube 54 adjacent the platform 44 to establishcommunication to the hollow passage 42. A depending column 60 is carriedby the undersurface of the platform 44 coaxial with the tube 54 formounting the apparatus 10 to a conventional stand or the like at thescene of use. (not shown) A manometer 62 or other pressure measuringgauge is sealably mounted to said tube 54.

Central openings 64 and 66 are formed in the top walls 68 and 70 ofportions 26 and 28. Each of these openings 64 and 66 are surrounded byannular ribs 72 and 74 spaced slightly from the openings 64 and 66 onthe upper surface of the walls 68 and 70. Depending annular ribs 76 and78 are formed in the under surface of said walls 68 and 70 immediatelyadjacent and bordering said openings 64 and 66.

Adaptors 80 and 82 are received within said openings 64 and 66. Theadaptors 80 and 82 are identical in construction and tubular inconfiguration, each having a stepped annular collar 84 formed on theouter circumferential surface thereof spaced from the ends of theadaptor, the wide diameter portion 86 carrying knurling to enable facilemanipulation and the narrower diameter portion 88 thereof carrying agasket 90 secured thereon about the circumference of the adaptor. Theouter diameter of portion 88 is substantially the same as the diametericdistance between inner edges of ribs 72 and 74 respectively. Theadaptors 80 and 82 each have an axial bore 92. The wall 94 defining thebore 92 is provided with threading 96 for coupling to the airwayconduits as will be explained hereinafter. The outer diameter of thelower end portion 98 of the adaptors 80 and 82 is selected to besubstantially the same as the diameter of the respective openings 64 and66 so that the said portions 98 slip into the said openings 64 and 66 ina close fit with the gaskets 90 seated in the seat defined by ribs 72and 74 respectively and the walls 68 and 70.

Base means comprising bases 18 and 20 are each dish shaped castingsidentical in construction. Said bases 18 and 20 are formed having anannular stepped wall 100 and a floor 102. Wall portion 104 has a greaterdiameter than the wall portion 106 and therefor a gallery 108 is definedand seats a gasket 110. A central opening 112 is formed in the floor 102and is provided with threading 114. An annular abutment 116 is provided,spaced slightly from the opening 112 to define a seat 117. The diameterof the opening 112 is the same as the diameter of the openings 64 and 66and when installed or assembled, said openings 112, 64 and 66 arecoaxial. Cap means are provided comprising caps 1 18 and 120, seated. inseat 113 over the openings 112 of bases 18 and 20 respectively.

Canisters 22 .and 24 likewise are identical in construction. Canisters22 and 24 each are formed of a pair of cylinders 122 and 124 coaxiallyarranged one within the other. Cylinder 124 is of relatively narrowdiameter compared to cylinder, is of lesser wall thickness than cylinder122 and is longer than cylinder 122 to extend outwardly therefrom atboth ends thereof. A chamber 126 is defined therebetween. The upper endof cylinder 122 is open, and, when assembled, is seated in seat 32 ofthe absorber head. The cylinder 124 has external threadingprovided atits upper end as shown at 126. Thus, cylinder 124 is adapted to bethreadably engaged with the threaded portion 86 of adaptors 80, 82.

A perforate disc 128 is mounted permanently to the cylinder 124 at alocation spaced from the lower end 130 thereof, by a collar 132 and issupported rigidly by radial top and bottom ribs 132 and 134.'Thediameter of the disc 128 is substantially the same as the inner diameterof the cylinder 122 so that said disc 128 as installed, serves as thefloor of the canister. Cylinder 124 is provided with a pair of oppositeopenings 136 of ovular configuration spaced from the lower end thereof.The lower end of the cylinder 124 is provided with a threaded portion138 for threadably engaging caps 118 and 120 to complete the assembly ofthe absorber head 16,'absorber bases 18 and 20 and the canisters 22 and24.

Cap 120 differs from cap 118 in that cap 120 has a hollow tubularformation 140 opening to what can be described as equivalent to the well142 of cap 118. A conventional breather bag 144 is secured to the end ofthe formation 140, annular ridge 146 being provided thereon.

Directing attention now to the exhalation 'valve means 148 and theinhalation valve means 150 which are arranged to be frictionallysealably received in adaptors 80 and 82 respectively. The exhalationvalve means 148 receive the gases from the patient while the inhalationvalve means 150 provide the outlet for the carbon-dioxide free,anesthetic containing gases from the absorber apparatus 10 to thepatient.

The exhalation valve means 148 comprises a housing 152 of cylindricalconfiguration which includes a depending hollow tapered conduit 154 andan open top 156. The open top 156 has an interior gallery 158 and athreaded portion 160 adjacent said gallery 158. A side opening formation160 is provided in the housing 152. A seat 162 is provided surroundingthe opening 160. A right-angle pipe 164 carrying interior threads at oneend 166 and an annular groove 168 in the circumferentialsurface at theopposite end 170thereof, is seated in seat 162 and an inlet pipe 172carrying a threaded end 174 is engaged with end 170. A collar 178 isreceived sealably within open top 156 of housing 152, the seal beingeffected by means of O-ring 180 mounted on threaded portion 182 ofcollar 178. Collar 178 carries thereon viewing cap 184. Retaining cage186 is secured to annular groove 168 of pipe 164 and a thin disc 188 isnormally seated over end 170 of pipe 164 and lifted off of said endduring gas flow.

The inhalation valve means 150 is similar in constructions to theexhalation valve means 148 except that inner plate 190 is threadablyconnected to the interior of the housing 192 as shown at 194. An opening196 additional to opening 198 is provided in the wall of the housing 192and a pipe 200 is provided integral with the housing. An outwardlyextending outlet conduit 202 is integral with housing 192 and is joinedintegral with outlet adaptor pipe 204. Pipe 200 is coupled to the sourceof anesthetic gases, here coming from the vaporizer 14. All othercomponents of the exhalation valve means are identical in constructionto those of the valve means 148.

Each of the component elements of the absorber apparatus is demountableinto its parts and all are sterilizable in a conventional autocalve (notshown). The arrows 208 indicate the path of flow of the gases from thepatient into and through the apparatus 10. The exhalent gases enter theabsorber by way of pipe 164 unseating disc 188 and thence travel throughthe housing 152 to the conduit 124 into the base 118 by way of openings136 and thence, past the perforate disc 128 of canister 22 through theabsorbent 206 disposed as a charge in cylinder 122, into the chamber 36of head 16 through passage 42 to the chamber 38 of head 16, through theabsorbent carried in the other canister 24 and back to the conduit 124of canister 24. A portion of the cleaned gases will inflate the breatherbag 144 and a portion will flow upward along conduit 124 interior to thepipe 190 unseating disc 188 thereof and thence to the housing 152 of thevalve means 150 where it is mixed with the anesthetic gases from thevaporizer l4 apparatus by way of conduit 200 and is directed by way ofconduit 202 to outlet adaptor 204 to the patient, P.

The size of the canisters 22, 24 determine the charge of absorbentmaterial and these canisters can be exchanged with canisters ofdifferent capacity for different applications. Simply by unscrewing thecaps 118 and 120 and the unscrewing of pipes 124 and 124' from theadaptors 80, 82 the apparatus 10 can be disassembled. The valve means148 and 150 likewise can be disassembled and reassembled easily.Connection of the valve means 148 and 150 to the canisters can beeffected merely by frictional engagement, as illustrated. The gaskets,including gaskets 90., shown herein preferably are selected to be formedof silicone rubber materials or polytetrafluoroethylene compositions towithstand autoclave temperatures.

I claim:

1. A carbon-dioxide absorber apparatus demountable to plural externallyaccessible components each capable of sterilization by autoclave methodsand for use in closed circuit administration of anesthesia, whereinexhalent respiratory gases are introduced thereinto, exposed to anabsorbent medium therein to remove carbon-dioxide therefrom and releasedfor return as inhalent gases enriched with anesthetic gases, saidabsorber apparatus comprising:

l. a unitary absorber head having a pair of spaced, like bottom openingrecesses defining a pair of head chambers and a bridging passagewayformed between said head chambers,

2. a pair of canisters, each having an internal axial conduit extendingoutward from opposite ends thereof, each of said canisters having anopen upper end and a perforate lower end and containing absorbent mediumtherein,

3. a pair of cup-like base members,

. means for releasably securing said cup-like base members to said lowerends of said canisters and cimultaneously coupling sealably the upperends of said canisters within respective ones of said recesses of saidabsorber head, with the axial conduits thereof respectively isolatedfrom said head chambers,

5. demountable exhalation valve means and inhalation valve meansreleasably coupled to said absorber head in communication with the axialconduits of respective ones of said canisters,

said axial conduits each having port means located at the lower endsthereof and below the perforate lower ends of said canisters, said portmeans communicating with the interior of said base members,

securement of said base members to said canisters closing off the lowerends of said canisters whereby a continuous interior unidirectional pathfor gases is established along a path defined by the exhalation valvemeans through said axial conduit to said associated base member to thecanister interior to the one associated absorber head chamber throughsaid passageway to the other associated absorber head chamber andthrough said second canister interior to said other base member and byway of said associated axial conduit thereof to and through theinhalation valve means to the exterior of the absorber apparatus.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which relief valve means andpressure monitoring means respectively are removably sealably coupled tosaid absorber head in communication with said bridging passagewaybetween said head chambers.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which adaptor means areprovided having opposite open ends are slidably, sealingly engaged withsaid absorber head communicating to said head chambers, and saidrespective inhalation and exhalation valve means are sealably slidablycoupled to one end of said adaptor means and means are provided at theother end of said adaptor means for releasably coupling the axialconduitsof said canisters thereto.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said means forreleasably securing comprises cap means having means for threadablesecurement thereof to the lower ends of said axial conduits and seatableon said exterior surface of said base members.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said cap means includesa cap member having a perforate portion and a depending hollow stemsurrounding said portion and having a free open end and a breather bagis secured over the free end of said stem, and a second cap memberhaving a well in lieu of said hollow stem.

6. A carbon dioxide absorber apparatus demountable to plural externallyaccessible components each capable of sterilization by conventionalautoclave methods and for use in closed circuit administration ofanesthesia, wherein exhalent respiratory gases are introduced thereinto,exposed to an absorbent medium contained therein to remove carbondioxide therefrom and released for return as inhalent gases enrichedwith anesthetic gases, said absorber apparatus comprising:

a unitary absorber head having a pair of spaced, bottom opening,chambers arranged side by side and a horizontally arranged passagewayformed in said head between said chambers communicating therebetween,

a pair of canisters, each adapted to contain absorbent medium andarranged in parallel, side by side, sealed relationship with said headchambers to close off same,

a pair of axial tubes extending respectively through each of saidcanisters isolated from said head chambers,

hollow base means arranged at the lower ends of each canister sealablycoupled thereto to define a base chamber for each canister,

the lower ends of said axially disposed tubes respectively passingthrough said head chambers and having side openings communicating with arespective one of said base chambers,

cap means threadably mounted to the lower ends of said axially disposedtubes,

demountable exhalation valve means and inhalation valve means,

' adaptor means sealably secured to said absorber head respectivelycommunicating with said head chambers and receiving, threadably, theupper ends of said axially disposed tubes, said exhalation valve meansand inhalation valve means received coaxially within said adaptor means,said cap means and said adaptor means cooperating in said securement tocouple sealably said head, canisters and base member ones to the others,one of said cap means being imperforate so as to close off itsrespective base and the other of said cap means having passage means forattaching a breather bag thereto.

7. The absorber apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the cap meansand adaptor means are internally threaded and the axially disposed tubesare externally threaded adjacent opposite ends thereof.

8. The absorber apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which check valvemeans are provided removably coupled to said horizontal passageway insaid absorber head.

9. The absorber apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which said exhalationand inhalation valve means include a housing, an inlet conduit, achamber defined within said housing and an outlet conduit, at least saidinlet conduit being threadably coupled to said housing and valve meansdisposed between said inlet conduit and said chamber and arranged tocontrol passage from the inlet to the outlet.

10. The absorber apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which saidinhalation valve means includes a coupling conduit to enableintroduction of anesthetic gases from an exterior source into housing.

11. The absorber apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the exhalationvalve means and the inhalation valve means are slidably, sealinglycoupled to said head chambers, respectively, bgwa of said adaptor means.

12. A carbon dioxi e a sor er apparatus demountable to plural externallyaccessibly components each capable of sterilization by autoclave methodsand'for usevin the administration of anesthesia wherein exhalentrespiratory gases are introduced thereinto, ex-' posed to an absorbentmedium therein to remove carbon dioxide therefrom and released forreturn as inhalent gases; said absorber apparatus comprising:

a hollow absorber head, at least a pair of vertically arranged canisterscommunicating with said head, hollow absorber base means closing off thelower end of said canisters first valve and conduit means for receivingexhalent gases, second valve and conduit means for discharging gasessubsequent passage through said absorber apparatus, said first andsecond valve and conduit means coupled to said head, axial tubularpassage means within at least a pair of said canisters in communicationwith said first and second valve and conduit means and said base meansbypassing said head, and cap means engaging said axial tubular passagemeans and said base means, and said tubular passage means being incommunication with said pair of canisters by way of said base meanswhereby to define a unidirectional flow along a path defined throughsaid absorber apparatus from said first valve and conduit means throughsaid tubular passage means and thence into said base means and throughone of said pair of canisters to said head, thence again to the other ofsaid pair of canisters to said tubular passage means by way of said basemeans, thereafter to said second valve and conduit means; the apparatuscomprised of said first and second valve and conduit means, saidabsorber head, said canisters and said base means and said cap meansbeing all demountable to establish free interior access to enableautoclave sterilization.

1. A carbon-dioxide absorber apparatus demountable to plural externallyaccessible components each capable of sterilization by autoclave methodsand for use in closed circuit administration of anesthesia, whereinexhalent respiratory gases are introduced thereinto, exposed to anabsorbent medium therein to remove carbon-dioxide therefrom and releasedfor return as inhalent gases enriched with anesthetic gases, saidabsorber apparatus comprising:
 1. a unitary absorber head having a pairof spaced, like bottom opening recesses defining a pair of head chambersand a bridging passageway formed between said head chambers,
 2. a pairof canisters, each having an internal axial conduit extending outwardfrom opposite ends thereof, each of said canisters having an open upperend and a perforate lower end and containing absorbent medium therein,3. a pair of cup-like base members,
 4. means for releasably securingsaid cup-like base members to said lower ends of said canisters andcimultaneously coupling sealably the upper ends of said canisters withinrespective ones of said recesses of said absorber head, with the axialconduits thereof respectively isolated from said head chambers, 5.demountable exhalation valve means and inhalation valve means releasablycoupled to said absorber head in communication with the axial conduitsof respective ones of said canisters,
 6. said axial conduits each havingport means located at the lower ends thereof and below the perforatelower ends of said canisters, said port means communicating with theinterior of said base members, securement of said base members to saidcanisters closing off the lower ends of said canisters whereby acontinuous interior unidirectional path for gases is established along apath defined by the exhalation valve means through said axial conduit tosaid associated base member to the canister interior to the oneassociated absorber head chamber through said passageway to the otherassociated absorber head chamber and through said second canisterinterior to said other base member and by way of said associated axialconduit thereof to and through the inhalation valve means to theexterior of the absorber apparatus.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim1 in which relief valve means and pressure monitoring means respectivelyare removably sealably coupled to said absorber head in communicationwith said bridging passageway between said head chambers.
 2. a pair ofcanisters, each having an internal axial conduit extending outward fromopposite ends thereof, each of said canisters having an open upper endand a perforate lower end and containing absorbent medium therein,
 3. apair of cup-like base members,
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 inwhich adaptor means are provided having opposite open ends are slidably,sealingly engaged with said absorber head communicating to said headchambers, and said respective inhalation and exhalation valve means aresealably slidably coupled to one end of said adaptor means and means areprovided at the other end of said adaptor means for releasably couplingthe axial conduits of said canisters thereto.
 4. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 in which said Means for releasably securing comprisescap means having means for threadable securement thereof to the lowerends of said axial conduits and seatable on said exterior surface ofsaid base members.
 4. means for releasably securing said cup-like basemembers to said lower ends of said canisters and cimultaneously couplingsealably the upper ends of said canisters within respective ones of saidrecesses of said absorber head, with the axial conduits thereofrespectively isolated from said head chambers,
 5. demountable exhalationvalve means and inhalation valve means releasably coupled to saidabsorber head in communication with the axial conduits of respectiveones of said canisters,
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in whichsaid cap means includes a cap member having a perforate portion and adepending hollow stem surrounding said portion and having a free openend and a breather bag is secured over the free end of said stem, and asecond cap member having a well in lieu of said hollow stem.
 6. A carbondioxide absorber apparatus demountable to plural externally accessiblecomponents each capable of sterilization by conventional autoclavemethods and for use in closed circuit administration of anesthesia,wherein exhalent respiratory gases are introduced thereinto, exposed toan absorbent medium contained therein to remove carbon dioxide therefromand released for return as inhalent gases enriched with anestheticgases, said absorber apparatus comprising: a unitary absorber headhaving a pair of spaced, bottom opening, chambers arranged side by sideand a horizontally arranged passageway formed in said head between saidchambers communicating therebetween, a pair of canisters, each adaptedto contain absorbent medium and arranged in parallel, side by side,sealed relationship with said head chambers to close off same, a pair ofaxial tubes extending respectively through each of said canistersisolated from said head chambers, hollow base means arranged at thelower ends of each canister sealably coupled thereto to define a basechamber for each canister, the lower ends of said axially disposed tubesrespectively passing through said head chambers and having side openingscommunicating with a respective one of said base chambers, cap meansthreadably mounted to the lower ends of said axially disposed tubes,demountable exhalation valve means and inhalation valve means, adaptormeans sealably secured to said absorber head respectively communicatingwith said head chambers and receiving, threadably, the upper ends ofsaid axially disposed tubes, said exhalation valve means and inhalationvalve means received coaxially within said adaptor means, said cap meansand said adaptor means cooperating in said securement to couple sealablysaid head, canisters and base member ones to the others, one of said capmeans being imperforate so as to close off its respective base and theother of said cap means having passage means for attaching a breatherbag thereto.
 6. said axial conduits each having port means located atthe lower ends thereof and below the perforate lower ends of saidcanisters, said port means communicating with the interior of said basemembers, securement of said base members to said canisters closing offthe lower ends of said canisters whereby a continuous interiorunidirectional path for gases is established along a path defined by theexhalation valve means through said axial conduit to said associatedbase member to the canister interior to the one associated absorber headchamber through said passageway to the other associated absorber headchamber and through said second canister interior to said other basemember and by way of said associated axial conduit thereof to andthrough the inhalation valve means to the exterior of the absorberapparatus.
 7. The absorber apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which thecap means and adaptor means are internally threaded and the axiallydisposed tubes are externally threaded adjacent opposite ends thereof.8. The absorber apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which check valvemeans are provided removably coupled to said horizontal passageway insaid absorber head.
 9. The absorber apparatus as claimed in claim 6 inwhich said exhalation and inhalation valve means include a housing, aninlet conduit, a chamber defined within said housing and an outletconduit, at least said inlet conduit being threadably coupled to saidhousing and valve means disposed between said inlet conduit and saidchamber and arranged to control passage from the inlet to the outlet.10. The absorber apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which saidinhalation valve means includes a coupling conduit to enableintroduction of anesthetic gases from an exterior source into housing.11. The absorber apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the exhalationvalve means and the inhalation valve means are slidably, sealinglycoupled to said head chambers, respectively, by way of said adaptormeans.
 12. A carbon dioxide absorber apparatus demountable to pluralexternally accessibly components each capable of sterilization byautoclave methods and for use in the administration of anesthesiawherein exhalent respiratory gases are introduced thereinto, exposed toan absorbent medium tHerein to remove carbon dioxide therefrom andreleased for return as inhalent gases; said absorber apparatuscomprising: a hollow absorber head, at least a pair of verticallyarranged canisters communicating with said head, hollow absorber basemeans closing off the lower end of said canisters first valve andconduit means for receiving exhalent gases, second valve and conduitmeans for discharging gases subsequent passage through said absorberapparatus, said first and second valve and conduit means coupled to saidhead, axial tubular passage means within at least a pair of saidcanisters in communication with said first and second valve and conduitmeans and said base means bypassing said head, and cap means engagingsaid axial tubular passage means and said base means, and said tubularpassage means being in communication with said pair of canisters by wayof said base means whereby to define a unidirectional flow along a pathdefined through said absorber apparatus from said first valve andconduit means through said tubular passage means and thence into saidbase means and through one of said pair of canisters to said head,thence again to the other of said pair of canisters to said tubularpassage means by way of said base means, thereafter to said second valveand conduit means; the apparatus comprised of said first and secondvalve and conduit means, said absorber head, said canisters and saidbase means and said cap means being all demountable to establish freeinterior access to enable autoclave sterilization.